Ontario Northland, CAW finalize five agreements

Ontario Northland and the Canadian Auto Workers Union Local 103 recently ratified five new agreements, with 87.5 percent of union members voting in favor of the new contracts.

The three-year pacts provide wage increases of 3 percent each year, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2008, as well as improvements to benefits and work rules. The contracts cover 420 clerical, stores, rail and bus maintenance, on-board and hotel service, customer service and crew management employees.

Ontario Northland provides passenger- and freight-rail service in Northern Ontario.